The preparation and properties of some lithium zinc silicate glass-ceramics

Lithium zinc silicate glasses are of interest for the preparation of moderately high thermal expansion glass-ceramics which are suitable for sealing to a number of nickel-based superalloys. The effect of composition, in particular the variation of nucleating species, on the crystallization behaviour of a number of these glasses has been examined using differential thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction, and electron microscopy. Various crystal phases have been identified, including cristobalite, quartz, tridymite and ₀ Li₂ZnSiO₄. In addition, most of the glass-ceramics also contain an unidentified phase which may be related to the-series of lithium zinc silicates. Heat-treatment schedules have been derived on the basis of these results in order to produce a number of glass-ceramic materials. The resultant thermal expansion characteristics of the glass-ceramics have been monitored using dilatometry, and expansions in the range 12.3 to 17.1×10^–6° C^–1 (20 to 460° C), have been obtained, depending on the precise glass composition and heat-treatment schedule employed. In addition, the mechanical properties of a number of selected samples have been monitored, employing a biaxial flexure technique.     

Throughput of a satellite channel communication

Summary The throughput of a satellite channel communication is depending upon the link protocol. It is well known that the classical HDLC protocol is inadequate when applied to satellite links instead of short terrestrial links. Several modifications have been proposed to overcome this problem. The present paper gives an analysis and evaluation of a new class of protocols called Virtual Subchannel schemes which splits the satellite link into several components; these subchannels are assigned for transmission in cyclic order and are controlled independently of each other by the classical HDLC procedure.     

A Simple Electronic Analog of the Squid Axon Membrane: The NEUROFET

A simple electronic circuit is proposed as an analog of the excitable membrane. It is based on the Hodgkin-Huxley model and their squid axon voltage clamp data. The simulated potassium and sodium conductances are reproduced satisfactorily and the electronic action potentials are very similar to the experimentally recorded ones. Since this analog contains only a few electronic elements, it is small and inexpensive to build. It could be very useful as a means of simulating a wide variety of membrane conductances and different types of action potentials. Also, the simplicity of the circuit makes it an ideal unit to build complex neuron networks.     

Potentiometric titration of long chain quaternary ammonium compounds using sodium tetraphenyl borate

Current methods for determining the activity of long chain quaternary ammonium compounds (QACS) are based either on dye partition, titration, or colorimetric analysis. The two major disadvantages of these methods are the disparity of partition coefficients among differently constituted QACS and the difficulty in detecting visual end points. Some potentiometric titration methods for QACS have been reported in the literature. However, back titration techniques, as well as complicated electrode systems, are generally involved. A new potentiometric titration system is presented which uses aqueous sodium tetraphenylborate (TPB) solution as a titrant and a platinum-platinum electrode system to detect the end point. Standard potentiometric titration instruments may be used for this method. This new potentiometric method is superior in precision and accuracy to visual (colorimetric) methods. Original version presented at the 1986 Annual AOCS Meeting in Honolulu, HI.     

AXIAL PHASES DISTRIBUTION AND HOMOGENIZATION IN THREE-PHASE FLUIDIZED BEDS

We have investigated the axial distribution of the liquid phase in a three-phase fluidized bed in which the particles were glass beads of two different diameters, 710-850 μm and 2 mm. Two methods were used to reduce the axial heterogeneity and homogenize the bed: the use of packing elements and the addition of a small quantity of a high molecular weight polymer. The use of packing elements was shown to be very efficient in controlling phases distribution in the bed. The packing consisted of 1 mm thick steel horizontal plates punched and stretched to obtain parallelogram-shaped openings. The addition of a high molecular weight polyisobutylene (BASF Oppanol B246, M_u, =6.15 Lo⁶) on the phase distribution was also studied. Low polymer concentrations up to 397 ppm (based on the liquid phase) were investigated. The addition of the polymer reduced bubble coalescence and allowed for a better distribution of the phases.     

The influence of demineralisation and ammoxidation on the adsorption properties of an activated carbon prepared from a Polish lignite

The preparation of cheap nitrogen-enriched materials with large adsorptive capacities and selectivity towards volatile organic compounds remains a challenge. Ammoxidation has been used to prepare nitrogen-enriched activated carbons using a demineralised Polish lignite. The lignite samples were demineralised by two different methods before nitrogen-enrichment by ammoxidation and physical activation in steam. The surface chemistry was investigated by elemental analysis, Boehm titration, infrared and XPS spectroscopies and adsorptive properties by a linear solvation energy relationship approach. Results show a quasi-total demineralisation and a higher reactivity towards nitrogen for the demineralised samples. The BET surface is also higher than for the non-demineralised lignite. Active carbons previously ammoxidated and demineralised are more interesting in terms of selective removal of gaseous pollutants.     

Reaction kinetics modeling and thermal properties of epoxy–amines as measured by modulated‐temperature DSC. II. Network‐forming DGEBA + MDA

Reaction‐induced vitrification takes place in the network‐forming epoxy–amine system diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) + methylenedianiline (MDA) when the glass‐transition temperature (T_g) rises above the cure temperature (T_cure). This chemorheological transition results in diffusion‐controlled reaction and can be followed simultaneously with the reaction rate in modulated‐temperature DSC (MTDSC). To predict the effect of T_cure and the NH/epoxy molar mixing ratio (r) on the reaction rate in chemically controlled conditions, a mechanistic approach was used based on the nonreversing heat flow and heat capacity MTDSC signals, in which the reaction steps of primary (E_1OH = 44 kJ mol^?1) and secondary amine (E_2OH = 48 kJ mol^?1) with the epoxy–hydroxyl complex predominating. The diffusion factor DF as defined by the Rabinowitch approach expresses whether the chemical reaction rate or the diffusion rate determines the overall reaction rate. A model based on the free volume theory together with an Arrhenius temperature dependency was used to calculate the diffusion rate constant in DF as a function of conversion (x) and T_cure. The relation between x, r, and T_g, needed in this model, can be predicted with the Couchman equation. An experimental approximation for DF is the mobility factor DF* obtained from the heat capacity signal at a modulation frequency of 1/60 Hz, normalized for the effect of the reaction heat capacity in the liquid state and the change in C_p in the glassy region with x and T_cure. In this way, an optimized set of diffusion parameters was obtained that, together with the optimized kinetic parameters set, can predict the reaction rate for different cure schedules and for stoichiometric and off‐stoichiometric mixtures. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 91: 2814–2833, 2004     

Recent progress in road and lane detection: a survey

The problem of road or lane perception is a crucial enabler for advanced driver assistance systems. As such, it has been an active field of research for the past two decades with considerable progress made in the past few years. The problem was confronted under various scenarios, with different task definitions, leading to usage of diverse sensing modalities and approaches. In this paper we survey the approaches and the algorithmic techniques devised for the various modalities over the last 5 years. We present a generic break down of the problem into its functional building blocks and elaborate the wide range of proposed methods within this scheme. For each functional block, we describe the possible implementations suggested and analyze their underlying assumptions. While impressive advancements were demonstrated at limited scenarios, inspection into the needs of next generation systems reveals significant gaps. We identify these gaps and suggest research directions that may bridge them.     

A 60‐GHz on‐chip slot‐array antenna in integrated‐passive‐device technology for antenna‐in‐package applications

A new millimeter‐wave antenna structure on a low‐cost, production platform integrated passive device technology is presented. The antenna consists of a 2‐by‐1 array of slot antennas at 60 GHz. An in‐house developed on‐chip antenna measurement setup was used to characterize the fabricated antenna. The measurement results show an antenna gain of more than 5 dBi with a return loss of 18 dB at 60 GHz. The better‐than‐10‐dB impedance bandwidth of the antenna covers the 60‐GHz unlicensed band from 57 to 64 GHz. The 3‐dB beamwidths of the antenna are 105° and 76° at E‐plane and H‐plane at 60 GHz, respectively. The size of the die of the antenna is 2 mm × 4.5 mm. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE 24:155–160, 2014.